The A.M. Mucci Post
2685, Veterans of Foreign Wars was named for Private
Angelo Mucci who was killed in action while serving with the United
States Army in France
during World War I.

The Post's
home for many years was at 338 Line
Street, in a part of South Camden that
had many residents of Italian birth and descent. Among its activities
was the sponsorship of a large band, which played in many parades and
social functions in Camden's Italian American community.

By 1939 the Post had
taken up quarters at 820 Broadway,
on the second floor, over a furniture store. By the late 1940s the Post
had moved to 512 Clinton
Street, where it would remain through at least the end of the 1950s.
At some point during the 1950s the Post was renamed, and became known as
the South Camden Post 2685, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Most if not all of the
Mucci post's membership were Italian- many of Camden's social clubs were
organized on ethnic and/or religious lines in those times. The post,
along with the nearby Sons of Italy lodge and several other
Italian-based organizations, was a vital part of the social fabric of the neighborhood
for many years.

The band was formed in the later thirties. Its founder was Joseph Constantino,
seen standing behind the bass drum in the above photo. Rehearsal facilities shifted a few times at different locations in South Camden.

The band performed at most of the religious processions (honoring saints primarily) sponsored by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Roman Catholic Church. The pastor was Father Monica who was
succeeded by Father Mike Argullo. During the summer, the processions would be held on Sundays and many times also on Saturday. Each procession was a giant celebration that lasted all day and some weekends. Before the processions started the band would form at the church after the first mass and go up and down every street
from South 2nd to South 5th Streets from Chestnut street to Mickle
Street, covering most of the parish and finishing again at the church. The processions then started about
2:00 PM and went down South 4th street to Mickle, west to South
3rd, then south on South 3rd street all the way to Chestnut
Street., then east to South 4th Street to go north to the church. The processions included many

of the parishioners and the streets were lined two or three deep in a festive atmosphere. These lasted two or three hours.

Many games, food and entertainment
were available. The entertainment was the Mucci Post band. A bandstand was set on the comer of the church at
South 4th and Division streets. Sometimes if the occasion called for it, there would be two or three bands at opposite sides of the street. There might also be fireworks on the lots down by the river. The band performed at most of the cities parades and other functions. When there was no functions at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,
the band would appear in many other functions throughout South Jersey, Atlantic City, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The band was well rehearsed,
practicing twice a week, as most of the young men had never played an instrument before. The band played many arias from operas, Italian popular songs and novelty
numbers. There was no fooling around as the teacher, Mr. Constatino was a strict disciplinarian. He also thought the boys to march and no sloppiness was tolerated anytime. The cost to the boys was
50 cents a month each. If brothers were involved, there would be a
discount. He taught theory as well as the instruments. All the boys involved became well rounded musicians. Mr. Constatino was assisted by a few men from the old country
including Mike Vitali and Danny DiAmbrosio, who was Mr. Constantino's
son-in-law.

Unfortunately, when the war started most of the boys went into the service and the band dissolved. During service time, many had good and bad experiences ... the Normandy invasion, the liberation of Paris, V2 rockets, being torpedoed, etc.

After the Mucci Post band broke up, Joseph Constantino's
son-in-law, Danny DiAmbrosio with his father in law's assistance started a new band in the late
forties. Some returning veterans joined the band and helped the new kids. The functions were the same as the earlier band. But then the Korean War started and most of that band also went into the service.

The
Philadelphia veteran of the World War who was responsible for
obtaining a court ruling safeguarding veterans rights for preference
on Federal employment projects, last night told his story to Camden
ex-service men.

The
test case brought by Spang was decided last week by Federal Judge
George A. Welsh in Philadelphia. Today, Judge Welsh announced, he will
sign a decree to carry out the ruling.

Spang
told the veterans he fought for two years to obtain preference for
veterans and that he fought alone, despite charges he was allied with
the Economy League and the Liberty League.

It
was decided to take action tonight to endorse Spang's move at a
meeting of the Camden County Council, V. F. W., at the headquarters of
A. Mucci Post,
Third
and
Line
Street. Ten posts are represented in the county council.

The
only veteran ever to have brought
a test case against the government, Spang has received nationwide
acclaim. He is 42, and lives at 548 South Fifty-second Street, Philadelphia.

Refused
Relief Job

He
went to court after he was refused a job with the Business Census
Bureau because his name did not appear on the public relief rolls.

"All
I want is a job," he stated after winning his suit. "When
the Government decides to live up to the Veterans' Preference Act,
then I'll withdraw my suit against them, not I before. We'll go right
on to the Supreme Court if necessary," he said.

Spang
served three enlistments in the Marine Corps, was wounded in the
Belleau Wood in 1918, was discharged from an army hospital and
returned home to find a gold star in the window because his mother
thought he had been killed. Then he re-enlisted in the Marines and was
assigned to recruiting work as a sergeant. Doctors sent him to the
Poconos for a chest condition. Then he returned to Philadelphia and
entered Temple University as a student under the Veterans'
Rehabilitation Administration. He was graduated in 1923 in commercial
law and real estate.

While
at Temple he met H. Eugene Gardner, attorney who successfully
presented Spang's side of the case to the court. His disability
allowance of $42 a month was cut to $10 and during CWA he was unable
to get a job and was appointed a committee of one to investigate the
failure of veterans to receive appointments.

He
worked with the Federal Housing Administration until June 19, 1935 as
a senior investigator, then he was fired and has not worked since.

"Since
then I have conferred with all the officials of the various agencies
in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Washington but could get no
satisfaction. Then I hunted up Gardner and we decided to enter
suit," he said.

His
financial backer, he says is Henry Asher, proprietor of a cigar and
variety store at 5211 Market Street, Philadelphia.

Spang
has two children for whom he keeps house, his wife being dead. They
are Benjamin, 16, and Mary Ellen, 13. Both attend school.

Daniel
Conner, Seventh District councilman, said veterans in South Jersey are
able to obtain fairer treatment than those in Pennsylvania because
they are more strongly organized.

Thomas
J. "Reds" Donlon, who led the bonus march from Camden to
Washington, asked Spang whether those veterans who obtain their bonus
payments would be taken off relief. Spang declared he hoped they would
not be discriminated against and that Judge Welsh's decision was
looked for to answer that question.

Sergeant
Ray Smith,
Camden veteran, who also addressed the group declared fairness was one
of the qualities the veterans should insist on.

He
said he was angered by the fact that on driving down Broadway, where
workers were clearing the streets of ice, most of these working with
picks and shovels appeared to be
undernourished, while others were standing by waving flags to let the
cars by.

"The
flag-wavers should take their turns
at the shovels," Smith declared.

Allen
Kline was chairman of the meeting.

.

A.
M. Mucci Post No. 2685, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 338 Line
Street.
Commander Innocenzo Ambrico announced that the annual military ball and
spaghetti supper will be held Memorial Day night. Proceeds will be spent
for the sons of veterans of the V. F. W. A meeting will be held Tuesday
night to plan for a membership drive.

Camden
Courier-Post

February 28, 1936

Mt.
Carmel Procession

Many
people would walk in the procession and there were bands
playing music. My mother had a favorite saint, which was
Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel. Every year on July 16th , the
feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, my mother had the
florist make a big basket of white flowers. This basket
would be carried, in the procession, by a strong
teen-age girl. Two younger girls, dressed in white,
would hold two white ribbons, which were attached to
each side of the basket of flowers.

Carrying
the basket and holding the ribbons was considered an
honor and was sought after by many of the little girls.
I, of course, being my Mom's daughter, held one ribbon.
Mom would usually ask one of my cousins to hold the
other ribbon. Many times there were other little girls,
also dressed in white, waiting for an opportunity to
hold the ribbon if one of the ribbon holders got tired
or was exhausted from the heat of the summer day.

We
would walk for hours in this procession. People who
lived along the route, would come out and give us a
drink of water whenever the procession paused.
Interspersed throughout the procession were two bands
that played music. One was the Valeriani band, which was
comprised mostly of older men, and the other was the
Mucci Post Band, mostly teen-age boys. There was a
good-looking, blond, young boy playing the saxophone in
the Mucci Post Band. I did not know him then, but many
years later, he would become my husband. His name was
John Pontillo.

In
the procession, most of the mothers walked behind the
saint statue. Some of the women did not wear shoes;
their stocking feet would be all blistered because of
the hot surface of the streets. They would pray the
rosary as they walked. This was their personal sacrifice
offered to the Blessed Mother for favors they had
received. During the war, their numbers increased
because many of the women had sons in the armed services
and they would use this occasion to implore the Blessed
Mother to watch over their sons.

The
saint statue was carried by a group of men that would
constantly change because some of them were old and
would tire easily. But none of these men wanted to give
up an opportunity to show their dedication to the
Blessed Mother. The saint statue would stop from time to
time so people could pin money on a ribbon sash, which
appeared on the front of the saint statue; it was laden
with money. The procession lasted for about three hours.
These processions were special to our parents because
they kept alive the memories of their homeland.